Seahawks Sign Ex Steelers 1st-Round Pick LB Devin Bush; Bobby Wagner Next?

Desperate for help at linebacker, the Seattle Seahawks finally landed a viable starter by quickly striking a deal with former Michigan star Devin Bush.

Following a successful visit with the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the day, free agent linebacker Devin Bush will take his talents to the Pacific Northwest.

According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times and as confirmed by multiple sources to AllSeahawks, Bush and the Seahawks agreed to terms on Thursday night. Contract length and total compensation have yet to be revealed.

League source tells the Seattle Times the Seahawks on Thursday night came to terms with free agent linebacker Devin Bush: https://t.co/IbNjfTA0bb via @seattletimes

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) March 17, 2023

Bush, a former first-round pick out of Michigan, became an immediate starter with the Steelers in 2019. However, he battled persistent injuries during four seasons in the Steel City, including tearing his ACL after only five games during the 2020 campaign and missing three games with a foot injury in 2021.

Opening his career with a bang, Bush finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 after recording 109 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble returned for a touchdown. But once the injuries started piling up, his production dipped a bit over the next three years, as he only made 71 tackles in 14 starts in 2021 coming off of the ACL tear and finished with 81 tackles in 17 starts a year ago.

In coverage, per Pro Football Focus, Bush allowed opponents to complete north of 75 percent of their passes and throw three touchdowns when targeting him. On a positive note, he did produce four pass breakups in 2021.

On the smaller side at 5-foot-11, 234 pounds, Bush may not seem like the best fit for a 3-4 scheme like the one Seattle transitioned to last year and struggled working off of blocks at times in Pittsburgh. However, he's a phenomenal athlete and posted ridiculous testing numbers at the 2019 NFL Combine, including running a sub-4.45 40-yard dash, jumping 40.5 inches vertically, and posting a blazing 6.93-secod 3-cone drill.

Just 24 years old, Bush joins the Seahawks as a potential low-cost, high-reward signing at a position where they currently don't have a healthy starter on the roster and could play into long-term plans if he excels. Jordyn Brooks underwent ACL surgery in January and his status for the start of next season remains uncertain, while Cody Barton signed a one-year deal with the Commanders on Wednesday.

With Bush now in the fold, Seattle may still explore signing another veteran linebacker, including bringing back future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. The team could also opt to wait until the draft to address the position again.

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